Crime in High Street, Waltham Forest: statistics, rates and trends
2,548 crimes were recorded in High Street, Waltham Forest in the 12 months to July 2026, 235.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in High Street, Waltham Forest at a glance
- Crime trends in High Street, Waltham Forest
- Types of crime in High Street, Waltham Forest
- High Street, Waltham Forest compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in High Street, Waltham Forest
- What happened after crimes were reported in High Street, Waltham Forest
- Population and deprivation in High Street, Waltham Forest
- Questions about crime in High Street, Waltham Forest
- About this data
2,548 crimes were recorded in High Street, Waltham Forest in the 12 months to July 2026, 235.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 522 reports (20% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, High Street, Waltham Forest has the 138th highest crime rate.
| Measure | High Street, Waltham Forest | Waltham Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,548 | 29,474 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 235.7 | 105.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 10,809 | 279,737 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in High Street, Waltham Forest was highest in the year to July 2024 (2,711 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (2,378). Over the whole period it fell 1%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 2,548 | 235.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,605 | 241.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,711 | 250.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,428 | 224.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,412 | 223.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,378 | 220.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,513 | 232.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,690 | 248.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,564 | 237.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 202 |
| June 2026 | 198 |
| May 2026 | 214 |
| April 2026 | 210 |
| March 2026 | 232 |
| February 2026 | 223 |
| January 2026 | 234 |
| December 2025 | 208 |
| November 2025 | 223 |
| October 2025 | 202 |
| September 2025 | 192 |
| August 2025 | 210 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in High Street, Waltham Forest over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, theft from the person.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+44%) and public order (+15%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-35%) and robbery (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 522 | 48.3 | 1.41 | +12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 504 | 46.6 | 3.04 | -1% |
| Theft from the person | 287 | 26.6 | 15.72 | -35% |
| Shoplifting | 277 | 25.6 | 3.09 | +44% |
| Other theft | 244 | 22.6 | 3.53 | +7% |
| Public order | 150 | 13.9 | 2.09 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 119 | 11.0 | 1.62 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 117 | 10.8 | 2.20 | -26% |
| Drugs | 94 | 8.7 | 2.66 | -20% |
| Burglary | 91 | 8.4 | 2.38 | +12% |
| Robbery | 72 | 6.7 | 4.93 | -31% |
| Bicycle theft | 28 | 2.6 | 3.15 | -24% |
| Other crime | 25 | 2.3 | 1.10 | +14% |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 1.7 | 1.71 | +50% |
Violence and sexual offences in High Street, Waltham Forest
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (48.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 20.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in High Street, Waltham Forest
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 504 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (46.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 19.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in High Street, Waltham Forest
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 287 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in High Street, Waltham Forest
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 277 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 10.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in High Street, Waltham Forest
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 244 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in High Street, Waltham Forest
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in High Street, Waltham Forest
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in High Street, Waltham Forest
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in High Street, Waltham Forest
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 94 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in High Street, Waltham Forest
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in High Street, Waltham Forest
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in High Street, Waltham Forest
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in High Street, Waltham Forest
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in High Street, Waltham Forest
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to High Street, Waltham Forest, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to High Street, Waltham Forest.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs High Street, Waltham Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| St James | 1,423 | 91.6 | -61% |
| Markhouse | 623 | 78.6 | -67% |
| William Morris | 1,170 | 83.6 | -65% |
| Hoe Street | 1,658 | 116.6 | -51% |
| Lea Bridge | 2,449 | 140.2 | -41% |
| Higham Hill | 1,260 | 81.6 | -65% |
| Wood Street | 1,161 | 105.9 | -55% |
| Chapel End | 1,131 | 90.1 | -62% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in High Street, Waltham Forest over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 448 |
| On or near Gillards Way | 204 |
| On or near St James'S Street | 175 |
| On or near Bus/Coach Station | 127 |
| On or near Tower Mews | 106 |
| On or near Parking Area | 99 |
| On or near Selborne Road | 93 |
| On or near Police Station | 77 |
| On or near Brunner Road | 68 |
| On or near Hatherley Mews | 64 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in High Street, Waltham Forest over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,064 | 41.8% |
| Not recorded | 504 | 19.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 400 | 15.7% |
| Under investigation | 249 | 9.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 136 | 5.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 77 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 70 | 2.7% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 16 | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.2% |
High Street, Waltham Forest has an estimated population of 10,809. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in High Street, Waltham Forest sits in decile 3.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | High Street, Waltham Forest |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 74.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 7.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 43.3% |
| Social rented homes | 16.1% |
| Private rented homes | 40.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.2 |
Is High Street, Waltham Forest a safe place to live?
High Street, Waltham Forest recorded 235.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in High Street, Waltham Forest?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (504).
Is crime in High Street, Waltham Forest going up or down?
Recorded crime in High Street, Waltham Forest was down 2% on the year before: 2,548 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,605 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers High Street, Waltham Forest?
High Street, Waltham Forest is policed by Metropolitan Police. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to High Street, Waltham Forest. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.